Watercraft



E. A. FARISH Sept. 23, 1947.

WATERCRAFT 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 4, 1944 5 sheets-sheet 2 K 2 mw ,e m Q \1 Q m m M m NN MY Sept. 23, 1947. lE. A. FARlsH WATERCRAFT Filed Jari. 4, 1944 Sept. 23, 1947. E, A, FARlsH 2,427,772

WATERCRAFT Filed Jan. 4, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 E. A. FARISH WATERCRAFT Sept. 23, 1947.

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Patented Sept. 23, 1947 WATERCRAFT Edward A. Farish, Washington, D. C., assignor of one-tenth to Colette Romanet, Washington,

Application January 4, 1944, Serial No. 516,953- 1'1 claims. (o1. 9 3) This invention relates to water craft, and includes among its objects, to provide:

A boat of simple, low cost construction capable of being used to advantage either as a pleasure craft or for general utility;

A boat made of prefabricated units capable of being assembled in knock-down relation, resulting in a craft of general utility which, due to its particular construction, may be tightly closed and sealed against weather when not in use, and may be quickly opened and placed in condition for service, there being a, maximum of storage space and passenger accommodations;

A boat which may be used as a life raft or as a general utility boat, and which when used as a raft; may also serve as a carrier which can be dropped overboard from a ship or plane in the delivery of freight, mail and the like;

A water craft made of parts capable of being readily assembled by unskilled labor, and also capable of being taken apart and stored during periods of non-use, as for example during the winter months, the cost of maintenance being held to a minimum due to the fact that the boat requires no housing facilities;

A boat which may be used by people in all Walks of life on small and large streams, and which may be readily transported any distance in knockdown condition and quickly assembled for use at its destination;

And to generally improve and render more serviceable water craft of the general utility type.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages Will become apparent in View of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing-s, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a boat in accordance with the invention with the hinged combined seat and hatch covers raised, exposing the interior of the boat;

Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. 1 with the covers battened down and the boat sealed against entrance of water;

Fig. 3, a view in side elevation and partly Ibroken away;

Fig. 4, a, transverse section taken substantially n the line 44, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary perspective View of the rear left hand corner of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6, a View in perspective of the boat as shown in Fig. 1, with the deck cover installed;

Figs. '7 and 8, fragmentary perspective views of the adjacent interlocking ends of the side and end members of the hull;

Fig. 9, a View in perspective of the parts of Figs. 7 and 8 in assembled relation;

Figs. 10 and 11, outer-and inner views in perspective of one of the corner pieces which are applied over the interlocked side and end members as shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12, a section taken on the line I2-I2,

Fig 6; l

Fig. 13, a view in top plan of a front end attachment, partly -in section, which is applied when the boat is to be used as a life raft or carrier;

Fig. 14, a view in perspective of a toilet unit;

Fig. 15, a substantially central longitudinal sectional view of the assembled boat with the mast in place and the rudder attached;

Fig. 16, a detail view of one of the removable transverse seats;

Fig. 17, another detail view one of the removablebulwarks;

Fig. 18, a miniature View in perspective of a carrier model as it appears when thrown from a plane or the deck of a ship;

Fig. 19, an inside perspective of one of the side members forming part of the hull;

Fig. 20, a perspective View of the boat with a modified type of end member, to be used when it is desired to obtain a streamlined pleasure craft design;

Fig, 21, a fragmentary section taken thru one of the hull side members, particularly illustrating the operation of one of the clamp units for holding the side hatch covers in raised position; and

Fig. 22, a detail perspective of the hatch cover locking bar.

The boat in the form herein illustrated has a hull made up essentially of ve main parts or units, namely, two side frame units, front and rear end members, and a vcompartmented bottom. The construction of the side frames is .best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 19. The side frame units as a Whole are each'generally indicated at IIJ and II, and since each is made up of parts which are identical in construction, a, 'description of one will suice for both, and similar reference numerals are applied to like parts eX- cept that a. prime has been added to the numerals of the right hand unit. Each side frame unit includes end pieces I2, I2a which are connected by a top longitudinal strip I3, a similar bottom strip I4, a center rib panel I5 and an inner Wall panel I6, the latter having its lower edge resting in a longitudinal rabbet or groove I'I formed in the lower strip I4 and at its upper edge being in perspective of connected to the adjacent edge of the horizontally disposed rib panel I5. The parts above described constitute a skeleton frame work over which a covering I8 is applied and secured in leakproof relation to the top and bottom strips I3 and I4 and the end pieces I2. This covering may be canvas, sheet metalof thin light gauge, or any other suitable material. In addition, vertically disposed reinforcing rib members I 9 (note Figs. 3 and 19) may be connected between the strips I3 and I4 and interlocked with the rib panel I5. Each side frame thus made up constitutes a'relatively light yet strong and .durable unit which may be of prefabricated constructionand shipped ready for assembly.

The front and rear hull end membersare indicated at 20 and 2I, reference 'being had 'to Figs.

'8, 9, 12 and 15. The adjacent ends of the side frames or units IIJ and I I and front and rear end members 20 and 2| are provided with interlocking bracket members 22 and 23 formed with relatively deep notches'25and 26, said bracket members being rigidly connected to the side frames and end members in any suitable manner. These bracket members 22 and 23 areadapted to interlock as best shown in Fig. 9; and they are bored and tapped as indicated at 21, to receive bolts 28, note Fig. V12. When the side frames and end members are assembled in interlocking relation as shown in Fig.v9,'corner'blocks 29, Figs. -10 and 11, are applied thereover. These corner blocks may be made of wood or any other suitable material and have the inside ifaces thereof recessed as indicated at 30 in orderthat they may -lt snugly over the interlocking brackets 22 and 23; and whenthe blocks are applied, the bolts 28 are projected through countersunk holes I3| Yand thence through the holes y21 in the brackets 22 and 23 and into the end piece vI2 of each side frame and the adjacent end member :20 or 2I as the case may be.

The hull bottom is generally 'indicated at 32, note particularly Figs. Y4 and l5; it consists of a plurality of horizontally disposed floor panels 33, 33' and 33, which are' rigidly connected by mortised side panels 34, `34' and intermediate partition members 35, the entire bottom unit being thus made into a hollow compartmented or cellular structure of considerable strength `yetflight in weight and having maximum buoyancy. It will also be apparent that added safety is provided, since the bottom unit has a multiple of floors, any one of which is leak-proof andwill maintain the boat afloat even tho the others may bedamaged. The opposite ends ofthe bottom unit are sealed by mortised end pieces 36 and 31, note Fig. 15, and the floors are preferably further divided by transverse reinforcing strips 38 and 39. Between the strip 39 and end piece 31 isa sump 40 of such capacity as will provideafeasonable degree of drainage which may resultfrom heavy seas, rain or possible leakage.

In order that the bottom `unit maybe easily and quickly applied in leak-proof assembled relation to the side frames and end'members, a ilange 4I, note particularly Figs. 4, 12 and 15 is inserted between the sidesandends of the bottom'and-the adjacent side frames and front and rear end members. This flange maybe Amade of sheet metal of suitable gage or other suitable material, or it may be made of resilient gasket material in whole orin part. As here -shown,-it.is made of relatively rigid -sheet material, and there is a gasket 42 mounted beneath the same over the adjacent top edge of the bottom, thereby providing an effective seal against leakage at this point. Bolts, studs or like fastenings may be used to connect the bottom unit to the ange.

It will be noted from Fig. l5 that the bottom is recessed or inset with respect to the front end member .and the side units or frames so as to prevent it from striking rocks and caving in and to protect it during landings.

When the side frames and front and rear end members together with the corner blocks and `cellular bottom have been assembled, the hull of the boat is substantially complete, and the next step is the mounting of the combined side seats and hatch covers.` These are best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. They consist of a series of panels 43, :44, 45 and 43', 44 and 45. The panels 43 .and 43 are reinforced by edge pieces 46, 46

which are secured thereto; and the top edges of the side frames I0 and I"I and front and rear end members 2li and `2I are rabbeted or grooved as indicated at 41. (note Fig. 9) to receive the adjacent edges of the'panels 43, 43', the rabbeted or cutout portion being carried to the corner blocks 29 as indicated at 41', Fig. 11.

The panels 43, 43 .and edge pieces 46, 46 are hinged to the panels 'of the side frames I0, II by means of hinges 48, 48', note particularly Figs. 2 and 5. The panels 44, 44 are in turn hinged to the panels v43, `43' by means of hinges 49 and 49', these latter hinges being on the underside of the panels in order that the hatch covers may fold back and down as indicated in Fig. 5. Finally, the panels 45 and 45 are hinged to the panels 44 and 44 'by means of hinges 50 and 50', the hinges in this instance being on top of the cover. With the cover boards or panels hinged in this manner, each side may be raised and reversely folded backas best shownin Figs. 1 and 5, the panels 43 and 44 providing a back-rest and the panels 45 providing the seat proper. The hatch covers are preferably made in front and rear sections, the transverse dividing line being substantially in the center of the boat, note Fig. 2. Thus either or both the front and rear of the hatch may be covered or uncovered.

vThe cover boards or panels are securely held in place when folded back by a series of clamps 5I, note Fig. 21, which are attached to bolts or rods 52 projecting downwardly thru the strips I3, I3 and lugs 52B, springs 52b being inserted over the bolts betweenthe strips I3 and lugs 5211. The bolts are arranged so that they may be pulled upwardlyagainstthe resistance of the coil springs 52D, and the clamps 5I are provided with hand rings 53 whereby the clampsmay be readily raised so that the biting edges thereof engage over metal wearstrips 54 applied over the inner edges of the strips 46, 46'; and whenthe clamps are released, the springs drawthe clamps down into locking position to thereby hold the panels '43, 43 in raisedposition as shown in Fig. 5. As an alternate construction, the bolts 52 may be threaded and tapped into the strips I 3, I3 so that they may be screwed down to morermly hold the clamps 5I in position.

A ridge pole 55, note Figs, 1 and4, is connected at opposite ends to the end members 20 and 2|, the connection preferably being of a detachable or releasable nature by means of plates 56 and pins 56'. This ridge pole formsa rest for the .centercover panels 45, -45zwhen the hatch covers are battened down. Additional strength and rigidity is provided by disposing amast51 along the length of the boat beneath the ridge pole 55,

the opposite ends of the mast being releasably connected to brackets 58 by means of pins 59. When it is desired to use the mast, it may be removed and anchored in a socket 58 provided therefor in the end unit 20, note Figs. 2 and 15. The mast may have an extension piece to increase its height if desired.

A center stanchion 60 is preferably provided at the center of the boat and may be hooked or otherwise detachably secured in place transversely of `the boat, the said stanchion being provided with a center recess or rabbet in order that it may interlock with the longitudinally extending ridge pole 55, note Figs. 1 and 6.

In order to lock the center cover panels 45, 45' securely in place on the ridge pole 55, a locking plate or strip 6| is provided and is hinged at 62 in order to render it foldable for compact storage. This strip is anchored at its rear end to the rear end of the boat by means of an eye bolt 63 which projects thru an elongated slot 64 formed in the strip; a pin 65 carried by a chain or the like 66, being adapted to be projected through the eye bolt as best shown in Fig. 2. At the front end of the boat, a round-headed lag screw 61 projects upwardly from the ridge pole 55 and engages in a key-hole slot 68 formed in the front end of the strip 6|, the latter having therein a flexible accordion-pleated section 69. Thus when the locking strip is laid down in place as shown in Fig, 2, the front end thereof may be located with the rear portion of the key-hole slot 68 registering,

with the lag screw 61, and the plate then elongated or stretched (due to the resilient section 69), bringing the slot 64 over the eye bolt 63, to be locked in place by pin 65. The deck panels 45, 45 may be provided with keyhole escutcheons 10 to receive projections 1I on the underside of the strip 6I to provide an additional securement for the latter, the engaging action being similar to that of the keyhole slot 68 with the lag screw 61.

In order to enable swimmers to board the boat, hand grips 12 and 12 are attached to the rear end of the boat; and cables or rope lengths 12at may be connected to the rings 53 to facilitate carrying the boat and to also assist in boarding.

To provide means whereby deck covers may be easily and quickly mounted, the deck panels 43, 43 have secured thereto sockets 13, note particularly Figs. 2 and 6, adapted to receive standards 14 of suitable height, the latter serving asa frame or support for flexible covering strips 15, which may be made of canvas, rubber or other suitable waterproof material capable of being rolled up and stored together with the standards beneath the deck seats or at some other suitable point within the boat. These sockets 13 also serve as supports for additional bulwarks 88, Fig. 17, to be more fully described.

In order to provide seats for rowers or oarsmen, the members indicated at 16 in Fig. 16 may be used, their position being indicated in dotted line in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the opposite ends of the seats 1B are rabbeted, as indicated at in order that the seats may be held against displacement when in position on the longitudinal seat panels 45, 45.

In case it should be desired to use the boat as a carrier for mail, freight or the like for transportation by plane or vessel, the attachment shown in Fig. 13 may be used. This consists of a modied type of end member, generally indicated at 11, provided with a center projection 18 having a towing bracket 19 secured thereto. A weighted jacket 80, which may be of lead or other suitable heavy material, is secured to the end member and becomes thinner in cross section around the central portion thereof where it is anchored to the projection 18, which has an outwardly tapering base portion. This weighted jacket is adapted to serve as a means of guiding the device when thrown from a height into the water, the weight maintaining the carrier in a downward position as indicated in Fig. 18. When the carrier or raft strikes the water, this jacket serves as a cushion to break the shock. 'Ihe thin section aroundthe nose 18 may be so designed that when the craft strikes the water from a certain height, the section will be driven up on the tapered base of the projection 18 and enlarged whereupon the jacket will be free to move by gravity clear of the projection. If the jacket is connected to the boat by an anchor rope or cable, it will then serve as an anchor to hold the carrier in the immediate area where it may have been dropped.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 15, the unusual amount of storage space provided within the boat is readily apparent. As shown, there are a series 4of -containers 8| disposed beneath the deck covers or seats, these containers being of various sizes to accommodate equipment such as food supplies, blankets, small stoves, electrical apparatus and the like. By removing any one or more of these containers, additional storage compartments are rendered accessible within the hull side frames I0 and Il. The front unit of the boat as well as the rear unit thereof may provide additional storage space, there being two tanks 8'2 shown at the rear of the boat which may be of approximately 25 gallon capacity, more or less, depending upon the size of the craft.

A toilet unit is shown in Fig. 14 and consists of a bottom ;83 provided with anchor brackets 84, a hinge cover 85, a back 86 and an end piece 81. Two of these toilet units may be provided, one for each rear corner of the boat. When in use, the unit may be attached to the rear end of the boat by means of the brackets 84.

In certain instances, additional bulwarks such as those indicated at 88 in Fig. 1'1 may be used. These bulwarks are of advantage when it is desired to fold down any section of the deck for resting purposes and still have the benefit of side walls which would otherwise be provided by the back-rest panels 43. At the front end of the boat is another bulwark 88a, note Fig. 6, which is held in place by a pair of the clamps 52. This bulwark is removable for storage within the boat when the deck is battened down.

Fig. 20 illustrates a streamline design which may be made simply by modifying the shape of the front end member, indicated at 99. In other respects the craft of IFig. 20 is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 6.

In Fig. 15 a rudder 9| is shown having a vertical shaft 9|a mounted in bearings 92 and 93 and provided with a steering bar or handle 94. It is preferred to have the rudder removable, as for example by providing a hinged or detachable upper bearing, or by any other well known eX- pedient. Also, an outboard motor or other power unit may be used if and when desired.

The manner in which the boat may be constructed and its numerous advantages and uses will be apparent in view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the drawings. It will be obvious that various types of materials may be used to give strength while at the same time rendering the boat light in weight. There is a wide choice ofsuch materials, `and eaohof the respective parts of the boat'may be;prefabri cated .and shipped in `knock-down =form. Thus a .relatively large craft'mayibeshipped any distance without utilizing considerable.freightspace, as would be necessary were Vthe vvcraft permanently built before shipping. .The boat is ,of great utility, both as a pleasure craft and as a commercial boat or as a life raft or carrier. No attempt has been made to set forth all-of the advantages of the ycraft herein, and Vit will be obvious that changes inconstruction and design may be made without departing from spirit or scopeof the invention asdened by theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a boat, a hull made upvof a plurality of prefabricated units comprising va pair of opposed side frames of hollow skeletonconstruction each having an outer water-proof 'wall and front and rear end members, interlocking fastening elements rigidly connected to the contiguous ends ofthe side frames and end members wherehy'said parts may be detachably connected to one another at the corners of the hull, corner blocks fitting in ush sealedrelation overthe fastening elements and corner joints lproviding a smooth outer surfacecontour, a bottom unit telescoping within the confines of said side Yframes and end members, .and means securing said bottom in sealed relation to the side frames `vand end1mem bers.

2. In Ya boat, a hull comprising prefabricated side and end units and a bottom funit, said -side units each consisting .of a hollow .skeleton framework with an outwardly facing water-proof shell, the interior of the framework providing Astorage space, the contiguous ends of the side and .end units having rigidly connecting thereto locking elements adapted to engage one another and hold the said .units in rigid connectedrelation, .corner blocks tting flush over said locking elements and the joints at the corners of the boat, said `bottom unit being made up of a pluralityzof longitudinally extending floors andinterconnected partitions providing a series of hollow compartments in the bottom unit, a supporting flange :carried by said side and end units, saidbottom telescoping within the confines of `said side and-end .units and being attachedto said flange, and a sealing gasket interposed between said flange andbottom unit.

3. A boat comprising a hull .defining .storage and passenger space, .a deck including .doors hinged to the opposite .sides .of the deck, .each door consisting of .a center `panel vand .at least two additional panels, said .panels 'being hinged to .one another in a manner such that the panels may be folded back with the lcenterpanels .providing seats along the sides of the deck .andthe `additional panels providing back rests .for said seats.

4. In a boat, a -hull defining a compartment `forpassengers and equipment, a foldingldeck for `said compartment comprising a .pluralityof .doors Varranged on opposite .sides .of .the .approximate 'center line of the hull, said doors ,each comprising a plurality of panels .hinged Ato .one Vanother and tothe opposite sides ofthe deck,.said panels being collapsiblefrom adeckfloor position .overlying said compartment .to bring .certain of the .panels to a position adjacent Ythe side of .the deck yand provide seats .with ,the remaining panels forming back -rests for `.the seats.

5. .A boat having a hull-defining .acompar-t- 8. ment for passengers andfequipment, .arridge ,pole extending from lend vto lend `of said compartment along the approximatecenter line thereof, a folding 'deck including doors comprised of. a plurality of;v panels hinged to oneanother andthe .sides of -the "deck, said panels being .foldable `back .to a position adjacent the sides ofthe -hull With-the center panels :of the deck providing .seats and the .remaining ,panels providing ,gunwales `and back .rests for the seats, said Vdoors when in folded-downposition bringingthe adjacent edges of the-center.panels over said ridge pole, a retaining member adapted to overlie the. adjacentedges of the center panels, andmeansfor .locking said member to said ridge pole holding said doors in tight, `sealed folded-down relation.

J6. .In .a boat, a hull deninga compartment,a folding deck .for said compartment, said .deck including .doors .each comprising .a .plurality .of panels hinged Ito one v.anotherand vto .the opposite sides .of .the deck, said doorsbeing collapsible .to bringcertain of thepanels `to aposition .adjacent the sides ofthe deck andprovide seats withthe remaining panels-forming back rests fortheseats, and means for releasably securing said lpanels against-displacement when collapsed `to seat and back rest positions.

'7. In Aa boat, `a 'hull .dening .acompartment for passengers and equipment,.a folding deck .for saidcompartment comprising 'hinged doors each including .a plurality .of panels 'hinged .to one another .and collapsible `to bring certain o'f the panels to a position adjacent the .side .of the deck and Vprovide seats with the remaining panels forming gunwales and back yrests 'for .the seats, and aseries of lockingclamps adapted'to engage said A gunwale panels and hold the .same in upright position.

8. In .a boat, .a hull .defining ,a compartment for4 passengers and equipment, ,arflding' deck for said compartment comprising a plurality ofpanels hingeclto one another and collapsible to bring certain of .the Apanels to a .positionadjacent 'the sides of the deck and .provide seats with theremainingpanels forming Agunwales and backrests for the seats, and 4a series 4of spring-mounted locking clamps anchored to the hull adjacent the gunwales .andadapted to releasably engage the'latter andhold them in upright position.

9. .'A water craft in the natureof acarrierhaving'a'hull defining a compartment, aolding deck forsaid compartmentwhereby the lattermay be closed and sealed against the Ventrance of water,.and a weighted member detachably connectedto the hull ina manner suchlthat when it strikes the water'the shock automatically 1releases the member fromV the hull.

10. A water crait'in the nature of a relatively small compactl carrier havinga hull defining a compartment, a folding deck for said compart- Ament whereby thellatter mayibe closed and. sealed against the entranceof water, a vprojection at one .end .of the hull, and a weightedfjacketlike vmember supported .bysaid projection .andserving to ,maintain the carrier in a` downward position when thrown from a height, said member Shaving a thin-wall section engaging said projection,zthe .section .being designed Vto move relatively .to .and free itself .of l,engagement with theprojection as a. result lof .shock when striking .the water to thereby ,permit .the Weighted .member v.to move `by gravity. clearof the hull.

.11. .In `a boat, .a 'hull comprised of apair .of opposed side .frames o'f hollow skeleton .construction having outer water-proo`f walls, front and 9 rear end members, fastening elements at the contiguous ends of said side frames and end members adapted to interlock and rigidly connect the said parts to one another, a bottom unit mounted within the coniines of said side frames and end members and connected in sealed relation thereto, and means overlying the fastening elements and sealing the joints between the side frames and end mem-bers.

EDWARD A. FARISH.

REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the l5 Number le of this patent:

Great Britain, 1914 Mar. 25, 1915 

